This release sees the introduction of some new vehicles to expand our range of Japanese support. Firstly, there is the Nissan 180 truck armed with 20mm light auto cannon to provide defence against enemy aircraft. Following this are the Ke-Nu and Ho-Ni III bringing a little more firepower when fighting armour. Long range support is handled by the Ho-Ro self propelled gun, and finally those pesky infantry are kept at bay by the twin Vickers of the Crossley armoured car.
As always, here’s a little background on the various new units…..
Nissan 180 AA Truck
The Nissan 180 was a standard truck of the Japanese military during WWII. Originally introduced in 1941, it fulfilled a number of roles including as a mobile AA platform when it was equipped with a Type 98 20mm automatic cannon.
This model is available as either a stowed version (as photo) or deployed with the bed sides dropped.
Ke-Nu
A variant of the Ha-Go, the Ke-Nu was a hybrid manufactured from a Ha-Go chassis and running gear, with a Chi-Ha turret. Originally a light tank, the addition of a medium tank turret did improve some aspects of the Ha-Go such as firepower, crew space and increased armour (on the turret). However, it did nothing to address the weak hull armour, and the additional weight put additional strain on the engine and gearbox.
Around 100 of these were converted, but most were retained for the defence of the Home Islands.
Ho-Ni III
The Ho-Ni III was developed in 1944 as a successor to the Ho-Ni I & II. Unlike its predecessors, it featured a fully enclosed casemate for crew protection, and an improved gun – the Type 3 75mm (the same gun fitted to the Chi-Nu tank).
Material shortages meant that the original order of 57 was never completed, with only 31 having been built by the end of the war. A few of these were deployed to combat units, but most were retained for the defence of the Home Islands.
Ho-Ro
The Ho-Ro was a Japanese self propelled gun of WWII that had been inspired by the German Grille. Based on the chassis of a Chi-Ha, it mounted a Type 3 150mm howitzer in an open casemate.
The combination of open casemate, thin armour (max. 25mm) and a lack of secondary armament, meant it was vulnerable in close combat.
Only 12 Ho-Ro SPGs were completed, but they saw action in the Philippines Campaign and on Okinawa.
Vickers Crossley
The Vickers Crossley armoured car was a British vehicle developed in the 1920s and primarily used in India. Used under license by other countries, the Vickers Crossley also saw service with the Japanese SNLF against China , under the Japanese designation of a Type 87.
The Crossley had a distinctive hemispherical turret armed with twin Vickers machine guns.
This model is supplied as the Japanese Type 87, without a cupola mounted searchlight.
Further updates are also available via our Facebook page.
Hopefully you found this bit of background history interesting and our models will be reinforcing your Italian armies.